Audio/video messaging device and system

Abstract

An audio/video messaging device allows a user to record, store and replay short audio/video messages. Key components of the present audio/video messaging device include a camera to capture video, a microphone to capture audio, memory, such as but not limited to flash memory, or a hard drive for storing the captured audio and video, a display to replay the video, a speaker to replay the audio, and controls to manage the recording and playback of audio/video messages. The present audio/video messaging device allows creation of a predetermined number of audio/video messages corresponding to a predetermined number of message slots. Each audio/video message may last up to a predetermined length of time and are sequentially stored in the memory/hard drive corresponding to the message slots. The controls allow navigation between audio/video message slots for creation, replay and erasure of an audio/video message. A remote control may also be provided to perform the various commands/features/functions of the audio/video messaging device. The present audio/video messaging device provides a level of information and/or communication that conveys the full range of emotional content not available in written, voice or still picture messages.

1 . A messaging device comprising:
 a video camera for receiving video for an audio/video message;   a microphone for receiving audio for the audio/video message;   memory for storing the received audio and video for the audio/video message;   a display for playing the video of the stored audio/video message;   a speaker for playing the audio of the stored audio/video message; and   a user interface for managing recording and playing of the audio/video message.   
   
   
       2 . The messaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 processing in communication with the video camera, microphone, memory and user interface.   
   
   
       3 . The messaging device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication port for receiving and sending an audio/video message.   
   
   
       4 . The messaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the display, video camera, microphone, speaker, memory and user interface are supported in a panel. 
   
   
       5 . The messaging device of  claim 4 , wherein the panel is pivotally supported on a stand. 
   
   
       6 . The messaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is one of flash memory and a hard drive. 
   
   
       7 . The messaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a remote control. 
   
   
       8 . The messaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a record button operable to initiate recording of the audio/video message, a play button operable to play a stored audio/video message, and an indicator operable to display whether an audio/video message has been recorded. 
   
   
       9 . A messaging device comprising:
 a processor;   a video camera in communication with the processor and operable to receive video for an audio/video message;   a microphone in communication with the processor and operable to receive audio for an audio/video message;   digital storage in communication with the processor and operable to store the video received from the video camera and the audio from the microphone for an audio/video message;   a display in communication with the processor and operable to play the video of a stored audio/video message;   a speaker in communication with the processor and operable to play the audio of a stored audio/video message;   controls for managing recording and playing of an audio/video message;   wherein the messaging device is operable to allow receipt and playback of up to a predetermined number of audio/video messages.   
   
   
       10 . The messaging device of  claim 9 , wherein an audio/video message is recordable up to a predetermined length of time. 
   
   
       11 . The messaging device of  claim 9 , further comprising a predetermined number of audio/video message indicators corresponding to the predetermined number of audio/video messages, each one of the audio/video message indicators operable to indicate whether an audio/video message is present and whether it has been played. 
   
   
       12 . The messaging device of  claim 11 , wherein the controls further provide for erasing a recorded audio/video message. 
   
   
       13 . The messaging device of  claim 12 , wherein the controls include a record button operable to initiate recording of the audio/video message, a play button operable to play a stored audio/video message, and an indicator operable to display whether an audio/video message has been recorded. 
   
   
       14 . The messaging device of  claim 13 , wherein the controls further include a navigation button operable to select a particular recorded audio/video message. 
   
   
       15 . The messaging device of  claim 13 , wherein the controls includes a remote control having a record button operable to initiate recording of the audio/video message, a play button operable to play a stored audio/video message, an indicator operable to display whether an audio/video message has been recorded, and a navigation button operable to select a particular recorded audio/video message. 
   
   
       16 . The messaging device of  claim 9 , further comprising a communication port for receiving an audio/video message and for sending an audio/video message. 
   
   
       17 . A messaging device comprising:
 an audio/video recorder operable to receive an audio/video message;   a plurality of audio/video message slots each one of which is operable to store a received audio/video message;   an audio/video player operable to play a stored audio/video message; and   a user interface operable to select any one of the plurality of audio/video message slots in order to allow recording, playback and erasure of an audio/video message associated with the selected one of the plurality of audio/video message slots.   
   
   
       18 . The messaging device of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of indicators corresponding in number to the plurality of audio/video message slots, each one of the plurality of indicators associated with one of the plurality of audio/video indicators and operable to visually show whether an audio/video message is stored in the associated audio/video message slot and whether the associated audio/video message has been viewed. 
   
   
       19 . The messaging device of  claim 18 , wherein each one of the plurality of indicators comprises an LED. 
   
   
       20 . The messaging device of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface includes a record button operable to initiate recording of an audio/video message, a play button operable to play a stored audio/video message, and an erase button operable to delete a recorded audio/video message.